MoD's panel to bandage veterans' bleeding hearts

CHANDIGARH: Can the bleeding heart of armed forces veterans be bandaged with a committee that looks into their grievances? The ministry of defence (MoD) is hoping the bandage works as it has for the first time formed a committee of experts to look into their issues and try and minimize litigation. The veterans have been protesting for 'one rank one pension' (OROP) for more than a month and have even threatened to boycott all government functions. The new committee, however, would not touch any issue related to OROP. Sources said that the decision to form the committee has been taken to reduce pending cases of retired personnel before various military tribunals, high courts and the Supreme Court. It will comprise five members who will look into on MoD's policies that are causing heartburn to serving and pensioner soldiers and submit its report within two months. They will also suggest ways to remove anomalies. Among the members is Major Navdeep Singh who has been a reservist-volunteer with the Territorial Army and is a supporter of soldiers' disability rights. He has been associated with several landmark judgments passed by different courts concerning soldiers and veterans. The committee will also include Major D P Singh who is the first Indian amputee marathon runner of the country who runs the NGO 'The Challenging Ones' for shaping the attitude of amputees using sports as a medium. He had lost a leg in the Kargil war. Other members include former adjutant general Lt General Mukesh Sabharwal and former military secretary Lt Gen Richard Khare. A former judge advocate general is also expected to be a member. Major Navdeep told TOI that committee would recommend broad institutional changes to mechanisms to address grievances.

Major General Satbir Singh, chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM), which is at the forefront of the OROP fight said, "Any step taken by the Centre towards the welfare of soldiers is welcome. The government should be serious about implementing the recommendations of the committee." General Satbir, however, said that the government should also pay heed to soldiers sitting on hunger strike at 72 places across the country and "feeling hurt, injured and bruised because of non implementation of OROP". Eminent veteran and former army commander, Lt Gen H S Panag said that it is a good step by the Centre as pending of litigation is a serious issue. General Panag, who has also served as member of military tribunal, however, favoured inclusion of a bureaucrat in the committee so that the MOD's bureaucracy would not sit over the implementation of recommendations of the committed after two months.